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F. W. WIESEBROCK & E. HUBER. THERMO ELEGTRIG INDICATOR.

No. 415,758. Patented NOV. 26, 1889.v

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F. W. WIESEBROOK 8v E. HUBER.

TEERMC ELECTRIC INDICATOR. No. 415,758. Patented NOV. 26, 1889.

(No Model.)

P. W. WIESBB-ROCK au E. HUBER. THERMO ELECTRIC INDICATOR 10.415,758.

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(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet '4. F. W. WIESEBROCK 8v E. HUBER. THBRMOBLBUT-RIG INDIGATDR.

N0. 415,758. Y Patented NOV. 26, 1889.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK W. VIESEBROCK AND ERNST HUBER, OF NEW YORK, NQY.; SAID HUBER ASSIGNOR TO SAID YIESEBROCK.

TH ERMo-ELECTRIC |N DICATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 415,758, dated November 26, 1889.

Application filed November 20, 1888- Serial No. 291,338. (No model.)

T0 all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that we, FREDERICK W. WIEsE- BROCK, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county and State of New York, and ERNST HUBER, a citizen of Switzerland, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have in vented new and useful Improvements in ThermoElectric Indicating Apparatus and Fire-Alarms, of which the'followin g is a specification.

Our invention relates to indicating apparatus of that general type employed in showing changes of temperature, and the purpose thereof is to provide means whereby variations of temperature atfany number of different points located in the same electric circuit maybe shown at a vgivencentral station or point at any instant, `and also the increase or fall of temperature above or below a given point or degree, whereby danger of confiagration on the one hand or of any im proper or undesired fall of temperature on the other hand may be not only ascertained at any moment, but Inay also be indicated by a suitable audible alarm located at one or more stations.

lt is the purpos'e of 4our invention to provide simple mechanism whereby the temperature existing at any one or all of a series of different points or stations may be indicated at any instant at va central or controlling station by the agency of a single index, such apparatus being adapted for use upon loaded vessels to show the temperature of different portions of the hold, and thus avert the danger of spontaneous combustion or fire from other causes, as well as in breweries and distilleries to control the temperature of fermentations, or in drying-chambers and coldstorage warehouses, in public halls and hospitals, and stores containing inflammable material.

nut 1G, to hold the disks in place.

1 in the line x :n Fig. 3` is an elevation of the resistance-drum in Fig. 1, part of the supportingplates being in section. Fig. 4 is a central vertical section, on an enlarged scale, of one of the thermometers used. Fig. 5 is a cross-section of Fig. 4t. Fig. 6 is a diagram showing the several electric circuits. Fig. 7 is an end elevation of the parts by which the indicator-circuits are closed.

1n the said drawings, the reference-n umeral 1 denotes a board, or other suitable support, upon which is arranged an electric bridge, preferably of the Yheatstone pattern. This bridge is composed, in part, 0f a spool 2, of Wood or other suitable Inaterial, wound between its flanges with ne silk-covered copper wire 3. Within the spool, upon suitable insulated bearing 4, is journaled a shaft 5, upon which is hung a magnetized bar 0, rendered astatic by the construction well known in galvanometers, and so arranged that it is balanced upon the shaft, while its center of gravity is below the latter. Upon the shaft`5 is rigidly mounted an ebonite block 7, upon which are mounted two copper springs or strips 8, parallel to each other and to the magnetized bar 6. These copper strips are slightly separated from. each other for insulation and are attached to the ebonite block centrally, so that their ends project upon each side thereof, being attached by screws 10, so that there shall be perfect insulation from the shaft. Upon each side of the shaft 5 and beneath the ends of the copper strips 8 is arranged a bracket 12, having an insulated horizontal pin or bar 13, upon which are mounted four copper disks, each disk having a'central opening to receive the pin 13. Between said disks are placedf insulating-disks 15, of paper, wood, or rubber, and upon the end of the pin 13 is turnedaf Two ofthe' copper disks are arranged beneath the end of one of the copper strips S, forming la pair 14, and the other two beneath the corresponding end of the other strip, forming a pair 14h. The arrangement upon the other side of the shaft 5, beneath the opposite ends of said cop-L per strips 8, is the exact duplicate of that already described,the copper disks being arranged to form the two pairs 14C and 14d, ly-

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ing beneath the ends of the copper strips S. lt will be Aseen that a current of electricity passed through the wire 3 upon the spool in one direction will cause the bar 6 to turn toward a vertical position, thereby rocking the shaft in one direction, While the reversal of the direction of the current will cause a similar movement in the opposite direction. Upon the board-1 is also mounted a motor composed of a permanent horseshoe-magnet 17, supported on a wooden bracket 13, to which it is secured by wooden strips 19. The armature 2O of this magnet is carried by a horizontal shaft 2l, having bearing at one'end in a block 22, and at the other end in a brass plate 23 having lugs 23, by which it is attached to the board 1 at right angles thereto. The armature is composed of a cylindrical bar of soft iron revolving close to the poles of vthe magnet, the `ends of: said armature being beveled upon the side immediately in opposition to the poles to secure the maximum effect from the attracting and repelling forces. Upon the armature are slipped spools 24, wound with many layers of fine copper wire, silk-insulated, and forming a continuous circuit, the terminals of the wire being attached tothe two parts ofthe commutator. The latter consists of two semicircular copper plates 25, mounted on a cylindrical insulating-support 267 carried by the shaft. The parts of the commutator are arranged in parallelism with the circle of rotation, and the extremities of said parts are separated from contact by a slight interval, as shown in Fig. 2.

The brushes are composed of copper plates or springs 27 and 28, mounted upon a suitable insulating-support 29 and lying against the revolving parts of the commutator.

In the brass plate 23 are journaled, upon oppositev sides of the motor-shaft 21, two independent shafts 30 and 31, both geared by pinions 32 with a small pinion 33 on the end of the dynamo-shaft 21. The other ends of those shafts have bearing in a brass plate 34, parallel with the plate 23. The end of the shaft- 30 projects through the plate and through a of rotation and connected in a continuous 39 is omitted, forming a breakin the continuity of the circuit at the point 41. Upon one side of this point a metal strip or arm 42, mounted on and revolving with the shaft 31, makes contact with the plate 40, lying adjacent to the break. Upon the board 1 is mounted a brass strip 43, rising to a point about in the horizontal line of the axis of the shaft 31, where it makes Contact with the plates 40 as the drum revolves. 'By this arrangement it will be seen that a greater or less number of resistances are inserted in the circuit by the revolution of the drum. For example, in the position shown in Fig. 3 all the coils save one are inserted. Should the drum turn from right to left, a coil will be withdrawn from circuit at each lsuccessive contact of a plate 40 with the brass strip 43, until inally, when the strips rest upon the plate making connection with the arm 42, all the resistances will be cut out.

The reference-numeral 44, Figs. 4 and 5, denotes an indicating-thermometer composed of a cast-iron vessel or receptacle 45, containing mercury and having in its upper end or mouth a female thread,which receives a castiron cap-nut 46. This nut is provided with a central opening 47, which receives a second cast-iron nut 48, in which is screwed an ebonite tube 49, having a central channel 50. At its top this tube enters a cast-iron cap 5l, provided with an overflow-chamber 52. The cap 51 has a nipple 53 projecting upward and passing through but not touching a brass cover 54, forming part of a brass case 55,which surrounds the parts and is screwed upon a collar 56 on the vessel 45.

At regular intervals in the ebonite tube 49 are inserted needles 57, of steel, lying at right angles to the channel and their points entering said channel. The needles are inserted upon opposite sides of the tube alternately, and their outer projecting ends are provided with eyes 5S, to which are connected resistances 59, connecting a needle on one side of the tube 49 with the needle alternating therewith and one or more degrees higher in the channel 50 on the other side of said tubes. From the latter needle-eye another 'similar resistance 59 extends to the third needle, and so on until the upper needle of the series is reached. Thus it will be seen that a continuous spiral of resistances surrounds the tube 49, running from bottom to top, the resistance coil being equal in number to the resistances upon the drum 3S and being connected to the eyes of the needles 57. Each resistance 59 inserted between two consecutive needles corresponds with the resistance of one of the coils 39 of the drum 38.

The construction of the thermometer is such that it can be adjusted to register either high or low temperature, according to the level to Which the volume of vmercury is forced by the adjustment of the screw-nuts IOO IIO

46 and 48. If a: equ'a-ls'the volume of the chamber 47 then the iatio will be exthe volume of mercury for correction being accomplished by the adjustment of the screwnut 46, while the more delicate adjustments and corrections are made by altering the level of mercury by the screw-nut 4S, a

standard thermometerbein g used to establish the proper points.

Upon the brass cap 54 of the thermometer and in electrical contact therewith is mounted a binding-screw 60, and upon the other side of the nipple 53 is mounted aseeond binding screw 61,'insulated from the cap 54 by a Washer 62 and having electrical contact with a spring 63, which rests on the nipple 53. The upper coil of the resistances 59 is connected by a wire 63 with the cast-iron cap 51. It will be seen that as the mercury rises in the channel of the ebonite tube all the resistances 59 below the top of the mercurial column will-be cut out of circuit. Any desired number of these thermometers are employed, arranged at different poiutsand in the manner suited to the circumstances' of each case.

The electrical circuits will now be described, after which we will point out and explain the means by which t-he several thermal indications are brought at any moment to the notice of the operator at a central station or point.

The coil of the Wheatstone bridge is supplied by a battery B, from one pole of which runs a wire 64, connected to the brass springstrip 43. From one of the lugs 23ARL on the brass plate 23 extends a conducting-plate 65, on which is a binding-screw 66. From this point a wire 67yconnects' -`with one of the terminals of the coil 3 of the'VVheatstone bridge by way of a binding-post`68. From the other terminal of said coil the wire 69 is carried to` a connection 70, which, for convenience, may be a plate of brass, which 'is bent to form a iiat horizontal plate, a portion of which is mounted on a support 72 near the board 1. Arranged near but not in contact with this plate is a second and similar plate 73, to which is connected a wire 74,1eading back to 'theother pole of battery B. Upon the support 7 2 are mounted a series of keys 75, each distance required for the accommodation ofa number of keys 'corresponding with the number of thermometers and each of said keys numbered or lettered to correspond with a letter or number designating one of the said thermometers. From a binding-screw 78 on each of the'elastic plates 76 extends a wire 79, connected to the binding-post GO, or that one of the thermometers which is numbered or otherwise designated to correspond with the number or designation on said key. From the other binding-post 61 on each thermometer a wire 80 is led to a binding-post 81. From this point a Wire or plate 82 leads to a binding-post 83, and thence by a wire 84 to binding-post 68.

In thev motor-circuit, which is supplied by a battery B', Figs. 1 and 6, a wire 85 leads from the negative pole of the battery to one of the disks forming part of the pair 14, and from the other member of this pair a wire S6 leads to the brush 27 of the motor. From the same pole of the battery a Wire 87 leads to a disk forming one member of the pair 14d on the other side of the galvanometenshaft 5, and from the other member of the same pair of disks 14d awire 88 leads to the other brush 2S of the motor. Starting fromthe other pole 'of the battery, a wire 89 leads to adisk forming one member of the pair ot' disks 14h, while from the other member of the same pair a Wire 90 leads to the brush 28 of the motor. From the same pole of the battery, also, a wire 91 leads to one disk ofthe pair 14, while from the other disk of said pair a wire 92 leads to the brush 27 ot' thefmotor.

The length of the conductors between the thermometers 44 and the binding-post 66 is compensated by one or more resistance-coils 93, interposed in the circuit 67. It is necessary that the conductors 8O from the binding-post 61 of the thermometers should have the same resistance, or, material and diameter of said conductors being substantially equal, the length should be equal also. In order to satisfy this postulate, we either use conductors 80, having similar lengths, or we interposeresistances 94 at suitable points. This arrangement enables us to connect any number of thermometers with one single`i11- dicator.

The automatic forward and backward movement of the motor-armature is one of the main features of the invention.

VThe battery-circuits being open, let it be supposed that the operator, wishing to ascertain the temperature at the point of location of one of the thermometers, touches that one -of the keys 75 having connection with said thermometer through the binding-post on the thermometer-cap. The moment the shank vor stem 77 makes contact with the parallel strips and 73 a current iiows' from one pole of the battery B through-wire 64fto the spring 43, where it is divided into two circuits. `One 'circuit is formed by the resistances of the drum 3S, the conductor0 65, binding-post 66, resistance 93, wire 67, binding-post 68, con- IOO IIO

nection 84 post 83, conductor 82, and the circuit in which the indicators are arranged. The other circuit is formed by the conductor 7 0, resistances 100, and the keys 'Z 5. Between the resistances l0() and the binding-post 68 the ,Wheatstone bridge 'is interposed by means ot conductor 69. As the drum 38 stands normally with the brass strips upon the zero-point and with all the resistances 3 9 .out out, and as more orless of the resistances 59 in the indicator-circuit will-be normally in circuit, the ratio of resistances upon the opposite sides of the Wheatstone bridge will be unequal, and a current will traverse said bridge, causing a deflection of the galvanometer needle or bar 6 and rocking the shaft 5, thereby bringing the -ends of the copper strips 8 down upon one side or the other of said shaft .5 and making contact with the two pairs of disks 14 14 or the two pairs 14C leid. The .Contact of these strips With the two pairs 14 and 14 .closes the motor-circuit in one direction-as, for example, from the negative pole ofthe battery by wire 86 to one of Vthe pair of disks le, through one of the copper strips 8, through the other disk 14a, by wire 86 to the brush 27, and thence by Way of brush 28 and wire 90, disks lib, the other .copper strip 8, and Wire 89 back to the other pole of the battery. This gives movement t0 the shaft of the motor in one direction, thereby revolving the shafts 3 0 and 3-1 and moving the index-hand on one shaft and the .drum 38 .carried by the other shaft. This revolution continues ,until the resistances inserted by the drum 3 8 are equal to the -resistances 59 in the indicator-circuit, whereupon the currentceases to traverse the Wheatstone bridge, and the motor-circuit is broken. At this momentthe index 36 points toa figure on the dial 37, which indicates the .temperature at the thermometer, For example, if lthe mercury in .the thermometer rises to the lfifth needle, six .ohms will be cut out of one branch of the indicator-circuit, and upon closing said circuit the equilibrium of the bridgecircuit is disturbed and the dynamo-circuit closed until as many resistances are inserted by the drum 3,8 as there are left in the thermometer. l

The .bridge is supplied by one or more -Lec-lanch or other suitable cells, and the inotor-circuit is supplied in a similar Way. The motor-battery is independent of the bridgebattery.

After each indication the index may be allowed to rem-,ain at any point to which it was moved by the last operation of the dynamo. It the thermometer rises after the indication, the next :test will advance the index correspondingly. It it falls, the test will retract the hand, the motor-current being reversed.

What we claim isl. In a heat-indicating apparatus, the combination, With a galvanoineter, of an independent motor-circuit closed in opposite directions by copper strips tilted by the deflection of the galvanol'neter bar or needle, an indicator-circuit forming part of the galvanometer-circuit, a drum containing a series ot' resistanees inserted er eut ont of the galvanometer-circnit by rotation ot said drum, and a Series of thermometers, each having n series of resistanees, which are inserted and cnt .ont bythe fail and rise of the inerenrial eoinrnn, the circuit of each thermometer `and the galvanometer being closed by a key, and the resistance-drinn beine; rotated in either direction by the revolution of the meten- Substantially as described.

2- In a heat-,indicating apparatus, the .coinbination, with aWheatstone bridge and galvanometer, and a needle or arm mounted thereon, having arms rocked by the-deflections of the @Manometer-needle, of a meter, e eireuit. for said motor closed in opposite directions by the zinns 0f the needle-Shaft, an index rotated bythe motor, Circuit in which are interposed a series of thermometers each haring a Series of resistanees inserted and cut ont by the rise and fall of the mercurial Column, a key-circuit, and an independent electric circuit .for the Wheatstene bridge, made and broken by the keys of the key-.eireuit, Substantially as described.

3. AIn a heat-indicating apparatus, the conlbination, with@ Wheatstone bridge and with a circuit therefor, of therinostalic circuit, a signaling-circuit, a series of keys interposed in the latter, a series of ther-mostats in the thermostatic circuit, and a motor .operating an index and having a `circuit interposed in a branch of the circuit of the @Vheatstone bridge and made in opposite .directions by contacts operated by a rock-shaft on which the needle or galvanometer-bar of the Xheatstone bridge is mounted, substantially as described.

4. The combination, with ia gaivauolneter, of a -separate motor and circuit, a shunt apparatus consisting of two pairs of disks upon each side of the axisot the galvanometer-needie, one disk in each pair being connected to yan opposite brush of the inotor and the other disk iu each pair to an opposite pole of the motor-battery, a pair of metal contacts til-ted by the deflection of the galvanometer-needle to make contact with the disks on either v s ide and close themotor-cireuit in either direction, a drnni revolved by theshalft of the inotorand having a series ,of resistances which are inserted and 4cut out by the revolution of the drum in opposite directions, a series of indicator-circuits all connected ,up in the galvanometer-circuit, aseries of thermometers each having a Seriesof resistances which arecut out and inserted by the rise and fall of the mercurial column, an index revolved by the motor, and means for closing each indicatorcircuit separately, substantially as described.

5.l A thermometer having 4a mercury-Vessel provided with a non-conducting indicatingtube for the mercuria'l column,said tube P110- vided with a series of steel needles entering IOO IIO

the mercury-channel, said needles connected, successively, by resistance-coils, a conductin g-Wire in circuit with the mercury-reservoir, and a separate Wire in circuit With the upper one of the series of spiral resistances surrounding` the thermometer-tube, substantially as described.

(i. A thermometer havinga mercurial reservoir, a screw cap or nut havingadjustmentin the month of said reservoir,asecond nuthaving` adjustmentin a central opening in the first nut, an ebonite tube having a channel for the mercurial column, a series of steel needles entering said channel, a seriesA of equal resistances connecting the needles from the bottom to the next above throughout the series, a metal cap in connection lwith the upper resistance-coil and having an overflowopening, a binding-post in electrical connection with the mercLuy-reservoir, and a separate binding-post in electrical connection with the metal cap of the thermometer-tube, substantially as described.

7. A thermometer havinga metal reservoir for `the mercury, a metal cap or nut adj ustable in the mouth of said reservoir, a second nut adjustable in an opening of the rst, and an ebonite tube having a series of resistances cut out and inserted by the rise and fall of the mercurial column, respectively, substantially as described.

S. The combination, with a galvanometer, of a drum having a series of resistance-coils, their terminals connected to a corresponding series of insulated metal plates arranged on the face of said drum, a connection between one terminal of the `ealvanometer-coil and the shaft of the drum, an arm on the shaft connecting with the last plate on the drum, said plate and the one adjacent having electric connection with opposite terminals of adjacent` resistance-coils of the drum, a brass spring bearing` on the plates of .the drum as the latter revolves and connected with one pole of the battery, a connection between the other pole of the battery and the other terminal of the galvanometer-coil, said connection broken beneath a series of circuit-closing keys, a series of indicator-circuits connected to said keys, a series of thermometers interposed in said indicator-circui ts, each thermometer having a series of resistances cut outand inserted by the rise and fall of the mercurial column, a connection between the several indicatorcircuits and the iirst terminal ot the galvanometercoil, a motor having a separate circuit, a shunt closing the circuit of the motor in opposite directions, a motor-shaft rotating' the drum carrying` the resistances and also ro- 'rating' a shaft moving an index overa suitable dial, and a series of keys corresponding with the thermometers and adapted to close each thermometer-circuit separately, substantially as described.

In testimony Whereot` We have affixed our signatures in presence of two Witnesses.

FREDERICK W. WIESEBROCK. ERNST HUBER.

WitnessesI RICHARD M. BRUNO, RoBr. M. JOHNSTON. 

